Grammar Gazette - Issue 2, 2023

‘IT IS WONDERFUL SCHOOLS ARE MAKING AUSTRALIAN RULES MORE ACCESSIBLE TO STUDENTS WHO HAVE NOT HAD THE EXPERIENCE TO TRY THIS ONCE MALE‑DOMINATED SPORT’ — A USTR A LIAN FOOTB A LL C A PT A INS,

CL A UDI A D A RGIE (12B) A ND COCO G A RTON (12B)

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LEADING THE WAY Claudia Dargie (12B) and Coco Garton (12B), Australian Football Captains When it was announced that Australian Football would be introduced as a QGSSSA sport, we were extremely excited to know more BGGS students could now be a part of the sport we both love so much. We were both introduced to Aussie Rules at a young age through family members. It is wonderful schools are making Aussie Rules more accessible to students who have not had the experience to try this once male-dominated sport. Having a sport at school is one of the most common ways people get involved in sport, so having that opportunity makes it much more popular. There are a lot of girls new to the sport at BGGS, but not one of them gives up. Because it’s a small cohort, everyone knows each other and is very encouraging of one another.

In 2023, it was evident Australian Football had grown in popularity within the student population, and increased numbers allowed the School to enter an Open, Senior, and Year 10 team to play the Senior season. The Open team was a dominant force throughout the season, finishing in equal first place. In preparation for each season, the teams train twice a week at Downey Park, with fixtures played on Saturday mornings at various venues across Brisbane. When the sport was introduced, modified rules were adopted such as wrap tackle, smaller fields, and a smaller team size. As we move into the Senior season in 2024, the rules are being changed to help the sport move towards ‘full football’, however, regular tackle rules will not be introduced into the game until students become more experienced in playing a collision sport.

We’re excited to know students at BGGS will have the opportunity to develop their skills and also to follow the pathway Aussie rules offers young women wishing to be involved in sport professionally. Even after we leave BGGS, our hope is that future students continue to fall in love with Aussie Rules.

WHEN I WAS YOUNG, I DIDN’T REALLY THINK IT WAS AN OPTION TO PLAY AUSSIE RULES. MY BROTHER PLAYED WHEN HE WAS YOUNGER, BUT I DIDN’T—AS IT WASN’T REALLY OFFERED AS MUCH. I THINK IT’S GREAT THAT NOW AT CLUB LEVEL, THERE ARE GIRLS STARTING FROM AUSKICK AGE (BEGINNING AT FIVE YEARS OLD). —CL A UDI A D A RGIE (12B)

CAPTIONS 1 MS JANE GOODEN 2 STRONG RUCK WORK 3 LEXIE MEADE (10H), MEENA WARNER (10G), MADDIE SKAROTT (10L), VIOLET SHAW (10L), ALEXANDRA INGLIS (10R), TILLY CARSON (10B) 4 AUSTRALIAN FOOTBALL CAPTAINS CLAUDIA DARGIE (12B) AND COCO GARTON (12B) 5 EMILY FLETCHER (10M) HOLDING HER MARK 6 HANNAH MILLNER (12B)

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BRISBANE GIRLS GRAMMAR SCHOOL

GAZETTE • ISSUE 2, 2023 ISSUE 2, 2023